Changeover valve

ABSTRACT

A valve casing is formed with at least one inlet, two outlets and a hole for receiving a liner member, and a valve seat having an opening is formed in a portion of the valve casing adjacent one of the outlets. A partition tube is formed integrally with the valve casing in communication with the inlet, the tube having an opening at the portion opposite to the opening of the valve seat. An operating rod is supported by the liner member fitted in the liner hole, and a valve element provided with a through hole in alignment with the opening of the valve seat is fitted to the operating rod in such a way as to be freely slidable over the valve seat. A spring maintains the valve element pressed at a point where the through hole of the valve element remains in alignment with the opening of the valve seat.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Nobutoshi Kishu Kitakyushu-shi, Japan [21] Appl. No. 810,480

[22] Filed Mar. 26,1969

[45] Patented Aug. 24, 1971 [73] Assignee Toyo Toki Co., Ltd

Kitakyushu-shi, Japan [54] CHANGEOVER VALVE 1 Claim, 4 Drawing Figs.

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,022,875 12/1935 Zinkil et al 137/467 X 2,846,691 8/1958 Zettinig 4/148 Primary Examiner- Laverne D, Geiger Assistant Examiner- David .I. Zobkiw Attorney-Awaters, Roditi, Schwartz & Nissen ABSTRACT: A valve casing is formed with at least one inlet,

two outlets and a hole for receiving a liner member, and a valve seat having an opening is formed in a portion of the valve casing adjacent one of the outlets. A partition tube is formed integrally with the valve casing in communication with the inlet, the tube having an opening at the portion opposite to the opening of the valve seat. An operating rod is supported by the liner member fitted in the liner hole, and a valve element provided with a through hole in alignment with the opening of the valve seat is fitted to the operating rod in such a way as to be freely slidable over the valve seat. A spring maintains the valve element pressed at a point where the through hole of the valve element remains in alignment with the opening of the valve seat.

gs I8 19 M CHANGEOVER VALVE DETAILED DESCRIPTION This invention relates to a changeover valve for use in bathroom, lavatory and other sanitary facilities.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved changeover valve wherein the discharging direction of fluid is changed over in such a manner thatthe fluid that has passed into the valve through one or two inlet ports is discharged through either desired one of two outlet ports by a very simple operation.

Another object is to provide a. changeover valve wherein an automatic changeover mechanism operatesthe valve so that,

when there is no fluidflowing therethrough the inlet ports are a rim jet changeover valve for bidet, and as a changeover valve. 7

for wate r supply to various appliances and arrangements in kitchens, lavatories, etc.

For the simplicity of explanation the present-invention is herein. described as embodied in the form of a bath shower changeover valve for use with the bath shower water supply system.

, Bath shower changeover valves have hitherto-been available but the valves of this type aresuch that if a user has taken a shower by turning the discharging direction of such a valve to the shower side and opening the cold and hot water valves and has left the bathroom after closing the coldand hot water valves, the next user will be unexpectedly showered with warm water from the above upon opening the cold and hot water valves. A great danger is that if the user opens only the valve for hot water, he or she may get scalded. Users must therefore read marks indicating the operating positions of. the changeover valve carefully before they open the cold and hot water valves. If the changeover valve is set to the shower side it must be manually shifted to the bathside. Otherwise, they will get an undesired shower as soon as the cold and hot water valves are turned open.

The changeover valve according tothe present invention is equipped with an automatic changeover mechanism whereby an automatic switching is accomplished by the closing of cold and hot water valves and the discharge of water to the. bath side upon subsequent opening of the water valves is ensured. Therefore, the users are not longer surprised with a showerby mere opening of water valves and can enjoy the bath or shower safely and without any anxiety. The disadvantages of the conventional products are thus completely eliminated These and other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will be more fully understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying'drawings, in which:

FIG. I. is a general perspective view ofa bath shower arrangement incorporating the changeover'valve according to p the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional viewjof a' form of changeover valve embodying the invention;-

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view of the essential part of the changeover valve shown in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the changeover valve of FIG. 2. as set for discharge towardthe shower side.

Referring specifically to FIG. I. numeral l indicates a shower head, 2 a spoutlor supplying water'to a bathtub 7. 3 a changeover valve according to the present invention, and 4 and! designate valves for the supply of cold water and hot water. respectively.

The operation of this bath shower system will now be described below. When the bathtub 7 is to be filled with warm water, the user opens the valves 4,5. Cold water and hot water then enter through the valves 4 and 5 the changeover valve 3 and are discharged from the valve 3 through the spout 2. If a shower is desired at this point, the user pulls the button 6 of the changeover valve 3 toward him or her. Then, the flow of warm water through the spout 2 is switched over to the shower head 1 and the water showers over the user. If it is further desired to switch the water supply over to the spout 2, the user has simply to push the button 6 ofchangeover valve 3. The

flow of warm water is again shifted in the direction toward the v ly. While the embodiment shown is provided with separate inlets 9 for cold water and hot water, either inlet may be omitted if the liquids are premixed-and only the mixed water is adinitted into the valve.3. Inside the valve casing 8 there is located a valve seat 12 in communication WItIIlI'lG outlet 10 for the bath. Also formed inside the casing 8 is apartition tube 14 having an opening 13 opposite to the valveseat 12' in such a manner as to communicate with the inlets 9. An opening 15 formed in an extension of the valve casing 8 is intended to receivean operating rod 16. It is internally threaded at 17 to mate with the threaded portion 20 of a liner member 18 so dle part of the liner b'ody. Between the flange l9 and the end faceof the opening I5of valve casing is interposed a packing 21 which constitutes a seal when the liner member 18 has been screwed'into the-opening of valve casing. v

The liner member IS'has an axial hole 25 to receive aflange 24 formed on the operating rod 16, a hole 26 to receive the stem of operating rod 16, and another hole 28. to accommodate a packing 27. Between the holes 25 and 26 there is formed an annular step 29. The liner member 18 is threaded on both end portions at 31 and 32. At the end of the liner member lfi-located inside the valve casing 8, the packing 27 is inserted into the packing hole 28 formed therein and a capnut 34 is screwed onto the threaded portion 3I, so that a seal is established between the operating rod 16 and liner member 18. The operating rod 16 is surrounded by a coiled spring 36, and a capnut 35 is engaged with the threaded portion 32 at the other end of liner member 18. Thus the spring 36 is fitted in the axial bore 25 of the liner member and between the capnut 35 and the flange 24"ofoperating rod 16 so that the flange 24 of operating rod is pressed against the opposite face of the step 29 under the urging of spring 36. The operating rod 16 has a button 6 at the free end and is fitted at the otherend to a valve element are plate 37 in such a manner that the rod can turn with respect thereto. The valve element; or plate 37 connected to that end of the operating rod 16 is finished smooth on the face to engage with the valve seat 12 and has a through hole 38 in the flat portion thereof. The valve element 37 is positioned'between the partition tube 14 and valve seat 12, and is moved by the operating rod 16 so asto slide over the top surface of the valve seat, bring the opening of the valve seat into communication with the through hole 38 of the valve element, or close the said opening.

The construction of the changeover valve according to the present invention has so far been described, and now the operation of the valve will be explained.

In the condition illustrated in FIG. 2, warm water flowing in through one inlet 9 is led through the partition tube 14 into the lower part of the valve body via the opening 13. It then passes through the valve hole 38 and the opening 39 of the valve seat, and leaves the valve through the outlet 20 for the bath. Since the opening 13 of partition tube 14 is provided in alignment there is no possibility of the water, even under high pressure, being discharged through the outlet 11 toward the shower head 1. t

If the user pulls the button 6 of the valve in the state shown, the operating rod 16 compresses the spring 36 and moves toward the direction indicated by an arrow in FIG. '2. As a result, the valve element 37 moves to the position as shown in FIG. 4. In this condition the valve element 3'! closes the opening 39 of the valve seat, and the flow of warm water led through the partition tube 14 impinges on the valve-element 37 and presses the valve element 37 against the valve seat 12 and, at the same time, shifts its'own course and flows out through the outlet 11 toward the shower head T 1. Thus, because the valve element 37 is kept pressed against the valve seat. 12 by the pressure of the warm water, the operating rod 16 remains in the position where it maintains the spring 36 in a compressed condition, and also avoids leakage through the outlet 10 toward the bathtub,

If the valves 4 and for cold water and hot water'are closed while the passage to the shower is left open, the flow of water sequently, the operating rod 16 and valve element 37 are brought back to the state shown in FIG. 2 by the resiliency of spring 36, and the valve hole 38 returns to the position where it again communicates to the opening 39 of the valve seat. If the user at this point opens the valves 4 and 5 for cold and hot water supplies, then the mixed liquid will flow out through the outlet for the bathtub in the manner already described. When it is desired to switch the water supply to the shower head 1 over to the spout 2 for the bathtub, it is only necessary to push the button 6. As the button 6 is pressed, the valve element 37 kept pressed against the valve seat 12 by virtue of water flow is slid to bring the valve hole 38 into communication with the opening 39 of the valve seat, to the state as shown in FIG. 2. In pushing the button 6, only a light force suffices because the force required to do so is aided by the resiliency of spring 36.

For the operation described above, the changeover valve according to the present invention needs only simple maneunever be showered suddenly or scalded with hot water. There- I 3 fore, the user can enjoy the bath and shower comfortably with an anxiety or danger. The changeover valve of the invention may be fitted in any desired direction because a spring is used with the mechanism for placing the valve element in the position where the valve hole is communicated to the opening of the valve seat when water supply is totally shut off. Because of this, the valve may be installed freely at any point which appears most desirable from the aesthetic viewpoint for the bathroom, or most convenient for handling, or most suitable for the piping system. Further, the entire construction and operation are so simple that the valve operates stably for an extended period of time without any trouble. Other advantages of the valve include the possibility of making it at low cost.

What is claimed is:

l. A changeover valve comprising a valve casing formed with two opposed outlets, a valve seat at the top of one of said outlets and extending horizontally across said one outlet, said valve seat having an opening communicating with said one outlet, an operating rod, means mounting said operating rod to move horizontally in said valve casing, a flat valve element secured to said operating rod within the valve casing and slidably located on said valve seat, said valve element having a through hole adapted for being aligned with the opening of said valve seat and a portion for closing said opening of said valve seat, means for urging said valve element to a position wherein said through hole is aligned with said opening of said valve seat, and a partition tube formed integrally with said valve casing and located therein, said tube extending across I said valve casing transversely between said outlets, at least one end of said tube having an inlet therein, said tube having an opening therein directed toward said opening of said valve seat and in communication with said inlet. 

1. A changeover valve comprising a valve casing formed with two opposed outlets, a valve seat at the top of one of said outlets and extending horizontally across said one outlet, said valve seat having an opening communicating with said one outlet, an operating rod, means mounting said operating rod to move horizontally in said valve casing, a flat valve element secured to said operating rod within the valve casing and slidably located on said valve seat, said valve element having a through hole adapted for being aligned with the opening of said valve seat and a portion for closing said opening of said valve seat, means for urging said valve element to a position wherein said through hole is aligned with said opening of said valve seat, and a partition tube formed integrally with said valve casing and located therein, said tube extending across said valve casing transversely between said outlets, at least one end of said tube having an inlet therein, said tube having an opening therein directed toward said opening of said valve seat and in communication with said inlet. 